Police have confirmed that three convicts who escaped from prison at the weekend are back in custody.

Michael Banks, 36, and Raymond Kennedy, 26, both serving life for murder, escaped from HMP Grendon in Grendon Underwood, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on Sunday at 1030 BST.

They escaped from the category B prison with another inmate, Peter Panesar, 34, who was serving five years for burglary.

Thames Valley Police said the three men were recaptured on Monday.

Grendon inmates

Banks and Kennedy were being questioned by police.

Grendon prison was set up in the early 1960s and is based on a "therapeutic community" model.

This means that inmates are expected to attend group sessions where they open themselves up and express their feelings.

Prisoners are referred to the prison from other jails and must sign a contract, saying they will take part in sessions, are willing to learn, to examine their past behaviour, to be tolerant of others and to be willing to help other inmates.

Most inmates are serious offenders with a history of violent or sexual crime.